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Alex Salmond urges independence vote by attacking NHS privatisation plan Alex Salmond urges independence vote by attacking NHS privatisation plan
(35 minutes later)
Scotland's government has intensified its attacks on the UK government's welfare cuts and NHS privatisation plans in an effort to bolster support for a yes vote in next month's referendum on independence.Scotland's government has intensified its attacks on the UK government's welfare cuts and NHS privatisation plans in an effort to bolster support for a yes vote in next month's referendum on independence.
The two-pronged assault by ministers in Edinburgh came as the first minister, Alex Salmond, offered to enshrine a free NHS in a written constitution after independence, and his deputy, Nicola Sturgeon, warned that £310m could be cut from disability welfare spending in Scotland.The two-pronged assault by ministers in Edinburgh came as the first minister, Alex Salmond, offered to enshrine a free NHS in a written constitution after independence, and his deputy, Nicola Sturgeon, warned that £310m could be cut from disability welfare spending in Scotland.
Provoking opposition claims of spreading "the biggest lie of the independence campaign", Salmond claimed that a yes vote was needed to prevent increasing privatisation and internal NHS competition in England from spilling over into Scotland.Provoking opposition claims of spreading "the biggest lie of the independence campaign", Salmond claimed that a yes vote was needed to prevent increasing privatisation and internal NHS competition in England from spilling over into Scotland.
He said NHS funding for Scotland could be cut; it would reduce Holyrood's spending allocation from the Treasury. He said the founding principles of the NHS established by Nye Bevan were being "scorned and betrayed by successive Westminster governments". He said NHS funding for Scotland could be cut; it would reduce Holyrood's spending allocation from the Treasury. He also said the founding principles of the NHS established by Nye Bevan were being "scorned and betrayed by successive Westminster governments".
Stopping short of claims by Yes Scotland that he was promising that a free NHS would definitely be enshrined in a Scottish constitution, Salmond said he wanted that possibility to be considered by an independent convention which was due to draft a new constitution after the 2016 election.Stopping short of claims by Yes Scotland that he was promising that a free NHS would definitely be enshrined in a Scottish constitution, Salmond said he wanted that possibility to be considered by an independent convention which was due to draft a new constitution after the 2016 election.
"It's now well understood that voting yes will allow us to protect Scotland's NHS from the threat to budgets here as a consequence of the cult of austerity and privatisation being forced on the NHS in England," he said."It's now well understood that voting yes will allow us to protect Scotland's NHS from the threat to budgets here as a consequence of the cult of austerity and privatisation being forced on the NHS in England," he said.
The day after announcing another £518,000 in grants for food banks, Sturgeon said that UK government welfare reforms would mean that at least 100,000 Scots could lose some or all of their disability benefits by 2018 when disability living allowance (DLA) was replaced by personal independence payments (PIP). The day after announcing another £518,000 in grants for food banks, Sturgeon said that UK government welfare reforms would mean that at least 100,000 Scots could lose some or all of their disability benefits by 2018 when disability living allowance (DLA) will be replaced by personal independence payments (PIP).
Publishing a Scottish government analysis, Sturgeon said the reforms "underlined the pressing need for a Scottish welfare system that has, at its heart, the clear principles of fairness and dignity".Publishing a Scottish government analysis, Sturgeon said the reforms "underlined the pressing need for a Scottish welfare system that has, at its heart, the clear principles of fairness and dignity".
She said: "Following a vote for independence, we will halt the abolition of DLA in Scotland and its replacement by PIP."She said: "Following a vote for independence, we will halt the abolition of DLA in Scotland and its replacement by PIP."
Their announcements – which follow polls showing support for independence has frozen or fallen since the first minister's TV debate on 5 August with Alistair Darling, leader of the Better Together campaign – produced a furious reaction from Labour, the Liberal Democrats and Tories. Their announcements – which follow polls showing that support for independence has frozen or fallen since the first minister's TV debate on 5 August with Alistair Darling, leader of the Better Together campaign – produced a furious reaction from Labour, the Liberal Democrats and Tories.
Willie Rennie, the Scottish Liberal Democrat leader, said there was no threat in the UK to any of the basic NHS principles, which encompassed a health service free at the point of delivery, based on clinical need, and universally available.Willie Rennie, the Scottish Liberal Democrat leader, said there was no threat in the UK to any of the basic NHS principles, which encompassed a health service free at the point of delivery, based on clinical need, and universally available.
NHS funding in England had grown by nearly £13bn since the coalition gained power in 2010. "For the nationalists to claim that these principles are under threat is dishonest, desperate and disgraceful," Rennie said.NHS funding in England had grown by nearly £13bn since the coalition gained power in 2010. "For the nationalists to claim that these principles are under threat is dishonest, desperate and disgraceful," Rennie said.
Margaret Curran, the shadow Scottish secretary, denied that the issue was about winning support for independence among working-class voters. She insisted that voters were raising concerns about growing waiting lists, hospital queues and poorer services in Scotland under Salmond's government.Margaret Curran, the shadow Scottish secretary, denied that the issue was about winning support for independence among working-class voters. She insisted that voters were raising concerns about growing waiting lists, hospital queues and poorer services in Scotland under Salmond's government.
She said it was "deplorable scaremongering when, after 14 years of devolution, we've clearly taken a different approach [jn Scotland] – it's not going to work". She said it was "deplorable scaremongering when, after 14 years of devolution, we've clearly taken a different approach [in Scotland] – it's not going to work".
Alex Johnstone, the Tory welfare spokesman at Holyrood, said Sturgeon had ignored the fact many people taken off DLA would be put on unemployment benefits and that the new PIP scheme would mean increases in benefits for others. Alex Johnstone, the Tory welfare spokesman at Holyrood, said Sturgeon had ignored the fact that many people taken off DLA would be put on unemployment benefits and that the new PIP scheme would mean increases in benefits for others.